Your Federal Deficit

   Figure 2. Graph of Federal Surplus or Deficit per Citizen by Year and President.

Observations repeated from previous page:

The graph in Figure 2 shows many things, but the most important are listed below. All observation are for surplus or deficit per citizen:

• There is a range of the federal debt and surplus per citizen for years 1980 to 2008: The range is $837 surplus to -$1508 deficit with an average of -$612 deficit.

• There are trends up and down within presidents and between presidents for the federal deficit and surplus per citizen for years 1980 to 2008.

• There are 26 years of deficit spending and 4 years of surplus, with the surplus years being years 1998 to 2001

• The difference of the year 2009 to the years 1980-2008 is very significant for the deficit per citizen: The deficit for the year 2009 is 8.5 times as big as the average of the years 1980 to 2008. The deficit for the year 2009 is 6.1 times as big as the average of the Bush-43 years, 2001 to 2008. The deficit for the year 2009 is $4330 larger ($5175-$845) than the average of the Bush-43 years, 2001 to 2008.

More observation from Figure 2 and Figure 3. All observation are the surplus or deficit per citizen.

• The surplus or deficit per citizens varies up and down with interesting patterns within each president and congress.

• During Ronald Reagan’s 8-year term the deficit was relative consistent with the middle 4 years being the worst, or most deficit.

• During George H. W. Bush, the 41st president, the deficit increased a little each year.

• During Bill Clinton’s term the deficit got better, consistently each year, with the last three year being a surplus.

• George W. Bush, the 43rd president, started with a surplus, went back to increasing deficits, reversed the direction by reducing the deficit in his 5th thru 7th years, but then going back to his worst deficit in his 8th year.

• President Barack Obama’s only year, so far, shows the August updated numbers for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). It is the worst deficit at any time in the nation’s history, and a very large increase.

• Many other observations exist.